Although traditionally Christmas is spent with the family, more travelers decide to escape their daily routine in explore other countries. Whether it’s to explore the local traditions or just to escape the business of the Holiday season at home, there’s nothing quite like taking a well-deserved break in Greece around Christmas.

Christmas in Greece

Photo Credit: Tilemahos Efthimiadis on Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/telemax/3126050872)

Greece is an Orthodox country and Christmas is one of the most important holidays of the year. Greeks celebrate the Nativity of Christ after a 40 days lent. The culmination of the lent is the Feast of the Nativity, highlighted by special services. A common custom is singing of Christmas Hymns (or carols) to tell the world that Christ was born. The festive season lasts before Christmas and ends after Epiphany (January 6).

The customs are similar to the Western ones, but of course, there are some customs specific to Greece. Traditionally, in Greece, gifts are not exchanged on Christmas Day; that’s reserved for St. Basil’s Day (January 1).

Read more about :
>>Traditional Christmas in Greece
>>Traditional Greek Christmas Carols
>>Christmas Greek Menu and Recipes

Where you want to plan it as a cultural holiday or you just want to spend several days on an island, the following tips will definitely help in finding Christmas deals in Greece.

You don’t need to be Christian Orthodox to spend the winter holidays in Greece. The atmosphere is festive and the cities are decorated with Christmas lights and trees. Many European travel agencies often have special packages for vacations during this time of the year in Greece.

Tours and travel packages aren’t overrated. You can either search for them online or visit some travel agencies in your own city. Don’t forget that many agencies offer discounted packages during winter (between November and March).

Do your research. December in Greece is not that cold, except if you plan to head to the slopes. Otherwise, you don’t need to pack winter jackets and boots. If you opt for a vacation on one of the large islands, the weather is very mild.

Look for flights to Greece ahead of time. Many airlines offer special deals for this time of the year, as the time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is considered peak travel season.

Don’t forget to look into the budget airlines that fly to Athens and the budget airlines that fly to Thessaloniki.

Sample fares for Holidays travel in 2022:
London – Athens – London Dec 22 / Dec 27 from 291 EUR per person on WizzAir
London – Thessaloniki – London Dec 22 / Dec 27 from 232 EUR per person on WizzAir + Ryanair
New York – Athens – New York Dec 20 / Dec 28 from 863 EUR per person on Air Serbia
New York – Thessaloniki – New York Dec 22 / Dec 26 from 1060 EUR per person on SAS

Accommodation in Greece is not hard to find but you need to pay attention to the facilities included. Don’t always look for the cheapest place; compare the hotels’ offers and choose the best price for the facilities included. During Christmas and New Year’s many hotels include a special dinner and/or a special event in the price. Vacation rentals are also popular and a cheaper alternative to staying in a hotel.

Remember that the public museums and other facilities are closed on Christmas (and some the day after Christmas as well) so don’t plan to visit any museum on Christmas day. Also, make sure you have enough cash (banks are closed as well) unless you choose places where you can pay with your card.

Booking.com

Plan some day trips. Whether you stay in Athens or Thessaloniki, there are several interesting options near-by. Rent a car if you prefer the freedom of exploring an area at your own pace.

If you want to spend your vacation on one of the islands, make sure to research the mode of transportation. Ferries are still available during winter but you’ll be limited to taking the slow ones. However, there are domestic flights available to the large islands.

Consider travel insurance . Blizzards can throw off the flight schedule and you might be stranded in an airport due to bad weather. It is always better to be protected so you should consider purchasing travel insurance.

Read more about:
>>Reasons to visit Greece during Winter
>>What to wear during the cold season

Note: This article includes links that may qualify as affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission.